A man who was allegedly arrested while carrying his late wife’s body parts in Huruma has now recanted his confession, claiming the police forced him to write it.
Initially, police had told the court that John Kyama Wambua had confessed to brutally killing his wife in Huruma Estate and had taken them to the murder scene, where they recovered additional body parts.
Wambua, who had been detained under a miscellaneous application, said that police officers at the station where he was detained allegedly forced him to sign a statement that was not his own.
Wambua, who is the main suspect in the murder of Joy Frida Munani, his alleged wife, told Principal Magistrate Carolyne Mugo at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi that she should order his statement to be revoked on account of coercion.
The investigating officer requested an additional 14 days of detention while awaiting the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) decision on whether to charge him.
“Your Honour, investigations are complete, and we submitted the file to the DPP’s office on February 13. We seek two more weeks to hold the suspect as we await their review,” the officer informed the court.
Magistrate Nyaguthie granted the request, allowing police to detain Wambua for 14 more days.
“I permit the police to hold the suspect for two more weeks. If the DPP decides to charge him, the trial court will address his claim of coercion regarding the statement and provide directions accordingly. Today’s proceedings are only for confirming whether investigations are complete,” she ruled.
According to police reports, Wambua was sighted by police officers on patrol in the Kasanova area of Huruma while carrying a bag on his back, looking suspicious.
Police stopped him, and upon searching the bag, they found human body parts, including the thoracic section, stashed in a nylon cement carrier.
Upon interrogation, he led the officers to his house, where additional body parts were found.
He confessed that they belonged to his wife, Joy Frida Munani. He alleged that he found his wife with another man, and when they got to the house, an argument ensued that led him to kill his wife and later dismember the body in order to dispose of it.
The case is scheduled for mention on March 3 this year.
